MAKKAH, 24 November 2007 — The Haj is known to be the world’s largest annual gathering, where millions of Muslims come to fulfill their religious obligation. But the Haj brings another kind of pilgrim, too: the seasonal worker.

Take Saad Naji, for example. He comes down from Tabuk — a 12-hour drive away — every year to work as a livery driver. He has done this for the past 17 years.

“During the first five years I used to pick up pilgrims and ask people on the street how to get to the destinations because I didn’t know the city very well,” said Naji.

He added that he earns about SR10,000 during the Haj season — a sum that makes a considerable difference to the quality of life for his family.

In order to make the maximum saving possible, Naji says he sleeps in his car instead of paying for room and board, which can be quite expensive during the peak pilgrimage season.

City officials estimate that at least 25,000 additional jobs are created during the Haj season, many of them as guides and drivers for the Tawafa organizations, the licensed Haj guilds. Other jobs include street vendors and municipal cleaners.

Dhaki Lanfun, a government employee, said that he joins Tawafa groups each Haj. “It’s a great opportunity to improve my financial situation,” he said. “I have worked the Haj since my youth. Last year was the most profitable so far.”

Lanfun said that he now has 10 years of experience as a Tawafa tour guide, and that he earns more money because of this background.

Anmar Hakim, a university student, said he also works the Haj tour circuit.

“It’s impossible to find this kind of experience and knowledge elsewhere,” he said. “You’re in contact with people from different places who speak different languages.”

Hakim said his money would go to buy textbooks for college and to help his family. “I also help my father financially and my family respects me a lot because of that,” he added.

Muhammad Al-Ghamdi, who is also in college, lives in a town near the border with Yemen. Al-Ghamdi said he too makes this work pilgrimage every year. His job back home as a hotel receptionist pays SR2,000 a month. During Haj he more than doubles his income.

“I also do some other tasks,” he said. “I get an extra SR4,000 every Haj season.”

A teacher at a local university, who didn’t want his name published, said that he used to be in debt and had a problem making ends meet. Then he invested in a four-door sedan and uses it to shuttle pilgrims around, making about SR5,000 during the season. Now, he says, he no longer owes money to anyone.

Even youngsters collect on the Haj windfall. High school student Ali Talib says he and his brother invest about SR500 in tea, biscuits and cups and end up with about SR4,000 in profit by the end of the Haj season.

“All you need is a crowded place to make money,” he said.